Pelargonium plant named ‘KLEPZ07202’

ABSTRACT

A new cultivar of  Pelargonium  particularly characterized by red flowers with a purple cast and lighter red eyes and border, dark-green foliage and a compact plant habit and good tolerance to weather conditions, is disclosed.

Genus and species: Pelargonium zonale.

Variety denomination: ‘KLEPZ07202’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of Pelargonium, botanically known as Pelargonium zonale and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘KLEPZ07202’. ‘KLEPZ07202’ was discovered as a seedling resulting from a cross in July 2003 in Stuttgart, Germany between the proprietary female Pelargonium parent, ‘KLEP01012’ (U.S. Plant No. 13,743) and the proprietary male Pelargonium parent, ‘Z 22 073’ (unpatented). A single plant selection was subsequently chosen for further evaluation and for asexual propagation.

The new cultivar was created in 2003 in Stuttgart, Germany and has been asexually reproduced repeatedly by vegetative cuttings in Stuttgart, Germany over a 3 and one-half-year period. ‘KLEPZ07202’ has been found to retain its distinctive characteristics through successive asexual propagations.

Plant Breeders Rights for this cultivar were applied for in Switzerland on Apr. 23, 2007 and in Canada on Mar. 30, 2007. ‘KLEPZ07202’ has not been made publicly available more than one year prior to the filing date of this application.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishing characteristics of this new cultivar when grown under normal commercial practices in a greenhouse in Stuttgart, Germany.

-   -   1. Red flowers with a purple cast and lighter red eyes and         border;     -   2. Dark-green foliage and a compact plant habit; and     -   3. Good tolerance to weather conditions.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

This new Pelargonium plant is illustrated by the accompanying photograph which shows blooms, buds, and foliage of the plant; the colors shown are as true as can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures. The photograph is of a plant about 3-months old and grown from rooted cuttings in a 12-cm pot under greenhouse (glasshouse) in Stuttgart, Germany under conditions which approximate those generally used in commercial practice.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW CULTIVAR

The following detailed descriptions set forth the distinctive characteristics of ‘KLEPZ07202’. The data which define these characteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out in Stuttgart, Germany. The plant history was taken on 3-month old, un-pinched plants in 12-cm pots in a greenhouse in January through April. The color readings were determined under natural light. Color references are to the R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London (R.H.S.) (2001).

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

-   Classification:     -   -   Family.—Geraniacaea.         -   Species.— Pelargonium zonale.         -   Common name.—Pelargonium (Geranium), zonal geranium.         -   Denomination.—‘KLEPZ07202’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female parent.—The proprietary female Pelargonium parent,             ‘KLEP01012’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 13,743).         -   Male parent.—The proprietary male Pelargonium parent, ‘Z 22             073’ (unpatented). -   Plant:     -   -   Habit.—Upright         -   Height.—20 cm to 24 cm.         -   Spread.—20 cm to 23 cm.         -   Life cycle.—Perennial, but usually treated as an annual.         -   Form.—Rounded, bushy.         -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—18 to 20 days.         -   Time to bloom from propagation.—Approximately 82 days. -   Stems:     -   -   Stem color.—RHS 139C.         -   Pubescence.—Present.         -   Stem form.—Round.         -   Diameter.—0.6 cm to 1.5 cm.         -   Length.—4.0 cm to 12.0 cm.         -   Internode length.—0.8 cm to 1.2 cm. -   Leaves:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate.         -   Shape.—Typical of geraniums, kidney-shaped.         -   Apex.—Rounded.         -   Base.—Open.         -   Margin.—Crenate.         -   Surface texture (both sides).—Dull with very short             pubescence.         -   Length.—4.0 cm to 5.0 cm.         -   Width.—7.0 cm to 8.0 cm.         -   Color.—Upper surface: RHS 139A. Lower surface: RHS 137A.         -   Petiole.—Length: 6.0 cm. Diameter: 0.15 cm to 0.2 cm. Color:             RHS 137D. Texture: Rough, slightly pubescent.         -   Venation pattern.—Palmate.         -   Venation color.—RHS 137D. -   Inflorescence:     -   -   Flowering habit.—Continuous.         -   Lastingness of inflorescence on the plant.—10 to 20 days.         -   Umbels.—Length: 8.0 cm. Diameter: 10.0 cm.         -   Individual florets of the umbel.—Depth: 1.0 cm to 2.0 cm.             Diameter: 4.0 cm to 5.0 cm.         -   Fragrance.—Absent. -   Flower buds:     -   -   Cluster shape.—Umbelliferous.         -   Length.—0.4 cm to 1.0 cm.         -   Width.—0.3 cm to 0.5 cm.         -   Texture.—Rough.         -   Bud.—Shape: Elliptical. Apex: Acute. Base: Obtuse. Margin:             Entire, smooth. Color: RHS 137C. -   Petals:     -   -   Quantity per flow.—6 to 7.         -   Shape.—Rounded.         -   Apex.—Rounded.         -   Base.—Attenuate.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Length.—2.2 cm.         -   Width.—2.2 cm.         -   Color of lobes.—Upper lobes (both upper and lower surfaces):             RHS 45B. Lower lobes (both upper and lower surfaces): RHS             66D. -   Sepals:     -   -   Number per flower.—5.         -   Shape.—Elliptical.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Obtuse.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Color (both surfaces).—RHS 137C with RHS 187B cast.         -   Length.—0.8 cm to 1.2 cm.         -   Width.—0.6 cm to 0.8 cm. -   Pedicel:     -   -   Length.—2.0 cm to 2.5 cm.         -   Diameter.—0.1 cm to 0.2 cm.         -   Color.—RHS 173A.         -   Texture.—Rough. -   Peduncle:     -   -   Length.—10.0 cm to 16.0 cm.         -   Diameter.—5 cm.         -   Color.—RHS 137B and RHS 173A.         -   Texture.—Rough. -   Reproductive Organs:     -   -   Stamens.—Anther length: 0.3 cm. Filament length: 0.6 cm.             Filament color: RHS 65D. Pollen amount: Moderate. Pollen             color: RHS 33B.         -   Pistils.—Number: 1. Stigma color: RHS 74C. Style length:             0.5 cm. Style color: RHS 155D. Ovary arrangement:             Club-shaped. -   Fruit/seed set: None observed. -   Disease and Insect Resistance: No particular disease or insect     resistance noted.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL AND COMMERCIAL CULTIVARS

‘KLEPZ07202’ differs from the female parent, the proprietary female Pelargonium parent, ‘KLEP0102’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 13,743) in that ‘KLEPZ07202’ has red flowers with a purple cast and lighter red eyes and border, while ‘KLEP01012’ has purple and light pink bi-colored flowers.

‘KLEPZ07202’ differs from the male parent, the proprietary male Pelargonium parent, ‘Z 22 073’ (unpatented) in that ‘KLEPZ07202’ has red flowers with a purple cast and lighter red eyes and border, while ‘Z 22 073’ has orange and red flowers.

‘KLEPZ07202’ differs from the commercial comparison variety ‘Pacdo’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 16,540) in that ‘KLEPZ07202’ has longer peduncles (10 cm to 16 cm) than ‘Pacdo’ (7 cm to 10 cm). 

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Pelargonium plant as shown and described herein. 